Bicycle.



3 Sheets.Sheet l. v

Mn 1% x 4 Patented Dec. 24. 190i.

0. LLHOBACK.

BICYCLE; (Application filed Hay 27,:1896. Renewed Apt. 23, 1901.)

(No Modem 'N o. 689,8!9. I Patented Deb. 24, [90L 1:. L. HOBACK.

BICYCLE. 7 (Application filed Iky 27, 1896.'- Renewed Apr. BMQOI.) I (NoModel.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

5 a Q N N A 5 q Q IR a, Q g a a m: Nomns FEYERS 00., Pnavaumn. wmrgnomn.n. c.

Patented Dec. 24, |90l.' c. L'HOHACK. 4 BICYCLE. v (Application filedKay 27, 1896. Renewed Apr. 23 1901.)

No. 689,8l9..

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

E NORRIIS PETERS\OO, Pumaumu, wAsHmnToN n c UNITED STATES PATENT @EEICE.

CHARLES L. IIORAGK, OF BROOKLYN, NElV YORK.

BICYCLE.

SPEG IFIGA'JJION forming part of Letters Patent No. 689,819, datedDecember 24, 1901.

Application filed May 27, 1896. Renewed April 23. 1901. Serial No.57,159. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES L. HORACK,

a citizen of the United'States, and a resident of Brooklyn, in thecounty of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Bicycles, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to vehicles of various kinds, and more particularlyto such vehicles, as bicycles and t-ricycles which may be propelled bythe person seated or mounted thereon or may be propelled by any suitablemotor mounted on said vehicle and which may be directed and regulated intheir motions by such person. c

As all the improvements invented by me are especially applicable tobicycles and as their construction and operation can be best illustratedand explained in connection with bicycles, I will in the followingspecification and in the drawings accompanying the same make referenceparticularly to bicycles.

The objects of my invention are to provide suitable mechanical means fortransferring motion from the power-wheelto the drivingwheel and alsomeans for varying the speed of the bicycle without changing that of thepower-wheel. I accomplish these and other useful purposes by the meansand appliances hereinafter described, and set forth more particularly inthe claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure1 represents a side elevation of a bicycle embodying all the features ofmy invention, part of the casing protecting the running-gear appearingbroken off, while'Fig. 2 is a front elevation, and Fig. 3 a ground plan,thereof, part of the saddle only being shown in Fig. a side elevation ofthe portions of the frame and driving mechanism adjoining the hub of thedriving-wheel. Figs. 5 and o are vertical sections along lines 5 5 and 66,1'espectively,

in Fig. 8; Fig. 7, a horizontal section along line 7 7 in Fig. 4, andFig. 8 a horizontal section along line 8 8 in Fig. 1. In said Fig. 8 thebraking mechanism is shown out of action and,thedrivingmechanism set athigh speed. Fig.9 is a section along line 9 9 inFigs. 1 and 10; Fig, 10,a section along line 10 10 in Fig. 9 looking toward the right; and Fig.11, an elevation, partly in section, of a device for confining therunning-gear in its various positions, Fig. 12 is a section along lines12 12 in'Figs. 7 and 13, said Fig. 13 being a section along line 13 13in Fig. 4. In Figs. 6, 7, and 8 the position of parallel rod 42corresponds with that shown in Fig. 4. Figs. 14 to 18, in-

elusive, refer to bicycles embodying leading features of my invention,wherein a sprocketchain is employed for transmitting motion from thepower-wheel to the'driving-wheel instead of the crank mechanisms abovereferred to, Fig. 14 being a side elevation of a bicycle constructed onthe same general plan as that illustrated in Fig. 1, part of the easingprotecting the running-gear appearing broken away, Fig. 15 being ahorizontal sec- .plied to the diamond framesof bicycles as now in commonuse, Fig. 18 being aground plan of that portion of Fig. 17 containingthe" power-wheel. Fig. 19 is a vertical longitudinal section through thecentral portion of connecting-rod 42. Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11,and 16 are drawn to an enlarged scale I and Figs. 12, 13, and 19 to astill larger scale.

Similar numerals of reference throughout the different views refer tocorresponding parts.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 13, inclusive,

20 is the frame,which in its general outlines corresponds with thediamond frame now in common use on bicycles, except that that portion'betweenthe crank-hanger 21 and the hub of the rear or driving wheel 22is preferably made divided, as more fully explained herewf ent outerdiameter secured concentrically to 23 is the front or pilot wheel, and24 too disk 29 by bolts 32. Ring 30 carries interior teeth 33, and ring31 carries interior teeth 34, and it will be observed that the teeth onsaid two rings are placed in different vertical planes in such a mannerthat the outer ring 31 so surrounds the teeth on ring 30 that thevertical planes in which inner teeth 33 are located intersect ring 31.By this arrangement of teeth 33 with reference to said outer ring it ismade possible to alternately employ in my speed-changing device twopinions of different diameters in engagement with two interior gears onthe same side of disk 29. 35 is a hollow shaft placed parallel withshaft 26, and 36 the outer shell carrying the ball-bearings for saidshaft 35. At the front end of shaft 35 a stud 37,-attached to a crank38, is inserted in and fixedly secured to said shaft. A similar stud 39is inserted in the front end of the hollow hub 40 of driving-wheel 22and has attached toit a crank 41. 42 is a connecting-rod so articulatedto cranks 38 and 41 that as these cranks revolve they will occupycorresponding positions and said connecting-rod will describe a parallelmovement. 43 is a shank adjusted to slide within the rear and centralportion of shaft 35. The rear end of said shank has joined to it a disk44, by means of narrow connections 45, adapted to slide withinlongitudinal slits 46in shaft 35, which slits therefore serve to guidesaid shank longitudinally and to prevent it from revolving withreference to said shaft. 47 is a nut screwed to the rear slitted end ofshafts 35, and thereby serving to prevent said shank from sliding to therear of the position which it occupies, as indicated in Fig. 8. 48 and49 are annular disks detaehably secured to disk 44 by bolts 50. Disk 48is provided with teeth 51, adapted to mesh with teeth 33 on ring30, anddisk 49 has teeth 52, adapted to mesh with teeth 34 on ring 31. Theseteeth 51 and 52 again are placed in different vertical planes and are soarranged with reference to each other and to teeth 33 and 34 that whenteeth 33 are in mesh with teeth 51 teeth 52 will be located in a planebetween teeth 52 and 34 and that even after shank43 has been moved toward the forward end of shaft 35 sufi'iciently to entirely disengageteeth 33 and 51 teeth 52 may still clear teeth 34, while a further for-Ward movement of shank 43 will bring teeth 52 into mesh with teeth 34.In detachably connecting disk 30 with disk 31, and also disk 48 withdisk 49, and, again, each set of said disks with a main disk, as 29 and44, respective] y, I provide for readily substituting gears offeringdifferent speed combinations when desired. 53 indicates corrugations onthe front face of disk 49. They substantially correspond With and areadapted to engage with corrugations 54 on an annular disk 55, made ofrubber or other suitable material, such rubber disk being secured to ametallic shield 56, which forms part of or is securely attached to theframe of the bicycle. By a still further forward movement of shank 43the corrugated portion of disk 44 may be utilized as a brake-block bybeing forced against the corrugations on rubber disk 55.

It will be seen that the teeth above referred to serve to transmit powerfrom the pedalshaft to shaft 35, and through the same to thedriving-wheel, and that the relative positions which it is possible togive to said teeth and to the rings and disks carrying. said teethpermit of four different conditions to be produced in the drivingmechanism of the bicycle, as follows: When teeth 33 and 51 are in mesh,the bicycle runs at high speed. When teeth 51 are out of engagement withteeth 33 and prior to the meshing of teeth 52 with teeth 34, no power istransmitted from the pedal-shaft to shaft 35. Bringing next teeth 52into mesh with teeth 34 produces low speed, while the further forwardmovement of shank 43 will disengage teeth 52 and 34, but will bringbrake-blocks 49 and 55 into operative contact, thus producing brakingaction. Backward movement of shank 43 will of course producecorresponding results, butin reverse order. By thus compelling thethrowing into mesh of thelow-speed gearing before the rider can changefrom the use of the highspeed gearing to the use of the brakingmechanism I moderate the shock which would otherwise be imparted to thebicycle and the rider.

For the purpose of alternately locking the parts of the runningmechanism in the various positions above referred to I employ thefollowing means:

57 is a sleeve adapted to slide along the outer surface of shaft 35 andwithin the outer shell or cylinder 36, containing the ball-bearings forsaid shaft. Said sleeve alongits outer surface is provided with ridges59 and grooves 60 between said ridges. A pin 61 so passes through saidsleeve and shank 43 as to compel said parts to always move together,substantially consolidating the same into one structure. 62 indicateslongitudinal slits in shaft 35, in which said pin is permitted totravel, and wherein the same is guided.

63 is an angle-lever fulcrumed at 64 and provided at its lower extremitywith teeth 65, which engage with grooves 60 on sleeve 57 through asuit-able slit 66 in cylinder 36. The upper arm of said angle-leveroccupies an approximately level position. Near its outer extremity. itis provided with an elongated eye 67, with which engages the shoe 68 ofa rod 69. This rod connects by means of an angle-lever 70, provided withelongated eyes and fulcrumed to the bicycle-frame, with a sectional rod71, which is made adjustable in length by having the upper end of itslower section and the lower end of its upper section adjustably securedby proper set-screws within a tube 72.

73 is a lever fulcrumed to a hanger 74, secured to handle-bar 24', suchlever serving to actuate the mechanism for shifting shank 43,

lever 73 toward the handle-bar he forces rod 71 downward and draws rod69 upward. This elevates the upper arm of elbow-lever 63, therebyswinging its lower arm forward toward the position where thebrake-blocks come into operative contact, while downward movement of thefree end of said lever will move shank 46 in the opposite direction.

For the purpose of locking the shifting device in any one of the threepositions which it may assume after the braking-contact has beeninterrupted I provide rod 69 with a se ries of ridges 75, formingnotches between them, with which a projection 76, attached to aleaf-spring 77 on the bicycle-frame, so engages that in the positionillustrated in Fig. 11 the parts of the running-gear are locked in suchrelative positions as to produce low speed, while if projection 7 6 werein engagement with the central notch this would correspond with thecondition of coasting, and if in engagement with the notch at theextreme right the device would be locked at high speed. While anadditional notch might be provided for locking the device in its brakingposition, I prefer to omit such notch, so as to give the operator morefreedom of ac tion. Leaf-spring 78, inserted between handle-bar 24 andlever 73, will force the braking-surfaces out of operative contact assoon as the rider releases his hold on the handle portion of said lever.The action of leafspring 77, with its projection 76, is such that asspring 78 forces lever 73 downward said spring 77 will prevent thegear-wheels from passing into the positions corresponding either withcoasting or with high speed, as it will, before either of thesepositions could be reached, owing to the impetus'given to rod 69 byspring 78, enforce operative contact between projection 76 and the upperright-hand notch, Fig. 11, and thereby between teeth 34 and 52, and thussecure normal movement of the gearing and the bicycle, whilewhenprojection 76 rests within one of the notches a vigorous movementimparted to said handle portion of the lever will cause projection 76 torelease its hold on the notch with which it may be in engagement andwill enable the operator to cause it to engage with either of the othernotches or else will enable him to apply the brake.

79 is a loop made of sheet metal secured to frame 20 and inclosing andprotecting the part of leaf-spring 77 carrying projection 76.

80 is a removable housing for protecting angle-lever 63 and connectingparts.

Connecting-rod 42 I prefer to provide with ball-bearings where the sameis articulated to cranks 38 and 41. Such a construction is illustratedin Figs. 12 and 13. Crank 41 is provided on its outer face with a stud81, the periphery of which has a groove adapted to receive thebearing-balls 82. The end of connecting-rod 42 where it passes over saidstud is formed in the shape of a sectional cap fitting the bearing-balls82, the extreme end portion 42 of said connecting-rod being detachablyconnected with the main portion of said red by bolts 83, passing throughsuitable flanges 84, and it will be seen that balls 82 thus run along aninner groove on stud 81 and along a sectional outer groove withinconnecting-rod 42 42, the dividing-surfaces cutting through saidgrooves, and that as soon as bolts 83 have been properly tightened saidballs will prevent the separation at said connecting-rod from stud 81. Iprefer to make the central main portion of connecting-rod 42 in twoparts. 85 isa coupling uniting said parts. The-same consists of flangesf f at the ends of said parts and facing each other, an elastic oryielding packing p, interposed between the same, and bolts 1) b,passingthrough said flanges and packing for the purpose of permitting ofadjusting the length of said connecting-rod and at the same time easingthe movement of the running-gear, owing to the yielding action of saidpacking. While the connection between the crank-hanger and the rearinclined fork of the frame may be made in any suitable manner, I preferto employ disks 86, one on each side of the axle of the rear wheel, towhich the members of said fork may be connected. 87 representsU-s'ha'ped members on both sides of said bicycle attached to said disksin the rear and to shoes 88forward. 89 represents braces between saidshoes and shell 36, 90 and 91 braces between said shoes and thesaddle-post and the crank-hanger, respectively, and 92 a brace betweensaid crank-hanger and shell 36.1 By this construction thorough rigidityof the frame in the vicinity ofthe driving mechanism is secured, and,besides, the approximately horizontal bars forming part of U-shapedmembers 87 being placed above and below connecting-rod 42 serve toprotect the same and may also be utilized as supports for a dress-guard93, extending over and outside of said connectingrod. It will beobserved that the forward end of connecting-rod 42, together with crank38, are placed and operate in the rear of pedalbar 27 and are thusprotected by the same against contact withthe foot of the rider.

. It is important to keep the running-gear free from dust and protect'it in general, making it, however, readily accessible for the purposeof inspecting it and oiling it. For such purpose I inclose the same in asectional casing, preferably constructed as follows:

'94 and are portions of a drum inclosing the running-gear, 94 being alower section hinged at 96. to lower shoe 88, and 95 an upper section orlid hinged at 97 to upper shoe 88, the two sections resting on shield 56and crank-hanger 21 and overlapping each other where they mesh and beingprovided with a joint spring-catch 99, whereby they will be compelled tomaintain their relative positions until released by the operator.

98 is a third section of the casing in engagement with shield 56 andaforesaidv sections and overlapping said sections when the casing isclosed. Section 98 is secured to shoes 88 by screws. It will be seenthat upon releasing spring-latch 99 sections 94 and 95 can readily beswung rearward, so as to fully expose and make accessible all part-s ofthe running-gear.

Figs. 14, 15, and 16 illustrate a bicycle and its running-gearconstructed substantially like the one illustrated in the precedingfigures with the exception that a chain with suitable sprocket-wheels isemployed instead of parallel rod 42 and its connecting-cranks and thatthe frame of the bicycle and some of the minor details of the bicycleare modified in accordance with said conditions, the relative positionsof,shafts 26 and 35, how: ever, remaining the same. This constructionwill be employed particularly where it is proposed to run by chain andwhere a frame is to be constructed with special reference to the use ofmy improvements, while in Figs. 17 and 18 my improvements are shown tobe applied to a bicycle originally provided with the ordinary diamondframe, such frame being altered only to a slight extent afterward forthe purpose of applying thereto my improvements.

In Figs. 14, 15, and 16 the shell 36-, inclosing axle 35, may be securedto a central bracket 100, extending rearward from crankhanger 21, andalso to said crank-hanger direct. The rear end of said bracket supportsa shoe 88', from which two forking members 87 extend to and connect withthe rear upright fork of the bicycle-frame. The principal difierencebetween this construction and that illustrated in the preceding figuresis that a sprocket-wheel 101 is substituted on shaft 35 for the crank38, that instead of employing a crank 41 in connection with thedriving-wheel a small sprocket-wheel 102 is fixedly attached to the axleof said wheel in the usual manner, and that a chain 103 communicatesmotion from wheel 101 to wheel 102. The casing inclosing therunning-gear is shown here to consist of two halves 94 and 95, hinged toshoe 88 and joined together by a spring-catch 99. A handle 73 foractuating the speed-changing appliances and the brake in this casecommunicates with bellerank lever by a continuous rod 71 and isindependent of handle-bar 24.

In the arrangement of running-gear illustrated in Figs. 17 and 18 theshaft 35, with its surrounding shell, is shown to be placed to the rightof and to be connected with and supported from pedal-hanger 21, and anidler 104 issecured to the frame above said shaft and said pedal-hangerfor guiding chain 103 so as not to interfere with or come in contactwith other parts of the structure. 105 is a straight single braceextending between the crank-hanger and shoe S8. The two sections 94' and95 are again hinged to shoe 88 and joined together, as before described.

I do not propose to confine myself to the details illustrated and hereindescribed, as various modifications may be made in such details and inthe general arrangement of the structure described without departingfrom the spirit of my invention.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a bicycle,the combination with its frame, of the pedal-shaft, the pedals, thegeared pedal-wheel, an independent shaft, a pinion on said shaft and ininterior engagement with the pedal-wheel, a power-transmitting devicebetween the shaft of the pinion and the axle of the driving-wheel, andmeans for sliding said pinion along its axle.

2. In a bicycle, the combination of a pedalshaft, an interior gearingmounted thereon, an independenthollow shaftcarrying a device fortransmitting power to the driving-wheel, a shaft guided along andadapted to slide within said hollow shaft, and a pinion mounted on saidsliding shaft and adapted to mesh with the gearing on the pedal-shaft.

3. In a bicycle, the combination with the pedal-shaft,the shaft of thedriving-wheel and an independent shaft, of an interior gearwheel mountedon one of said shafts, a pinion meshing therewith mounted on another ofsaid shafts, one of the shafts carrying saidmeshinggear-wheelsbeingconstructed of two members one of which isadapted to slide along the other, the two members being adjusted torevolve together, and means for transmitting power between the twoshafts carrying such meshing gear-wheels and the third shaft.

4. In a bicycle, the combination with the pedal-shaft,the shaft of thedriving-wheel and an independent shaft, of two interior gearwheels ofdifferent diameters mounted on one of said shafts, two pinions ofdifferent diameters and adapted to alternatelymesh with aforesaidgear-wheels mounted on another of said shafts, one of the shaftscarrying said meshing gear-wheels being constructed of two members, oneof which is adapted to slide along the other, the two members being ad-3' usted to revolve together, mechanism for actuating said slidingmember, and means for transmitting power between the two shafts carryingsuch meshing gear-wheels and the third shaft.

5. In a bicycle, the combination with the pedal-shaft,the shaft of thedriving-wheel and an independent shaft, of meshing gear-Wheels mountedon two of said shafts and means for transmitting power between saidgear-wheels and the third shaft, one of the shafts carrying the meshinggear-wheels being constructed of two members, one of which is tubular,the other being mounted inside and outside of it and adapted to slidealong said tubular member.

6. In a bicycle, the combination of a pedalshaft, a gearing mountedthereon, an independent shaft, a power-transmitting device between thesame and the driving-wheel, a

shaft adapted to slide along said independent shaft, a gearing mountedthereon and adapt ed to mesh with the gearing on the pedalshaft, astationary brake-block, and a brakeblock mounted on said sliding .shaftand adapted to engage with said stationary brakeblock.

7. In a bicycle, the combination of a pedalshaft, a gearing mountedthereon,van independent shaft, a power-transmitting device between thesame and the driving-wheel, a shaft adapted to slide along saidindependent shaft, a gearing mounted thereon and adapted to mesh withthe gearing on the pedalshaft, a block on said sliding shaft providedwith a suitable braking-surface placed crosswise to the axis of saidshaft, and a second brake-block adapted to engage therewith.

8. In a bicycle, the combination of a'pedalshaft, a gearing mountedthereon, an independent shaft, a power-transmitting device a spring forforcing the braking mechanism out of action and an independent springfor enforcing operative engagement between parts of the running-gear andadapted to arrest the movement produced by aforesaid spring.

10. In a bicycle the combination with a speed-changing mechanism,whereby high speed'and low speed may be secured alternately, of abrakingmechanism, a joint actuating-bar for said mechanism, and intermediatedevices connecting said braking and speed-changing mechanisms with eachother and with the actuating-bar, all arranged to successively producehigh speed, low speed and braking action. I V

. 11. Ina speed-changingdeviceforbicycles, the combination with thepedalshaft, the shaft of the driving-wheel and an intermediate shaft, oftwo pinions of difierent diameters, mounted on one of said shafts andtwo interior gear-wheels mounted on one of the remaining shafts andadapted to alternately engage with aforesaid pinions, the teeth of thelarger interior gear-wheel being placed-upon a ring which surrounds theteeth upon the smaller interior gear-wheel.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State ofNew.York,'this 26th day of May, A. D. 1896.

CHARLES L. HORACK.

Witnesses:

THEO. PRATT, JAMES THURsBY.

